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How to remove "program" from startup

Instaling and removing applications from your Windows can sometimes leave some traces that are unpleasant and can cause annoyances. One of these annoyances is the program in the startup section of the task manager.

If you ever opened task manager and went into the startup section trying to disable some of the startup items on your Windows boot there might be a chance that you have experienced and seen a program without any icon or information about it just sitting there.

Program inside task manager

This is due to some applications being removed from the system but for some reason, it still shows itself in startup and it is quite annoying. So here we will show you how to get rid of this annoyance so your startup is clean again without junk in it.

Removing a program from startup

Locating the source of the issue

The first thing of course is to open the task manager itself and navigate to the startup tab. Inside the startup tab right-click on the column header and tick or enable Startup type and command line. Now you will see the location of the supposed file (that is missing or you could just go there by right-clicking on the item, but here it is greyed).

program in task manager with details

99% of the time startup type will be registry since the file is missing, if it was a file fix would be just to simply delete the file in the folder but since it was installed and not properly removed registry key is still present but the file cannot be found. After confirmation that the file is indeed missing and that the startup type is registry open the registry editor by typing Regedit in search and pressing enter.

Removing the key from registry

Inside Registry editor navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run. Inside on right part, you will see all auto-start entries added by installed applications.

regirsty editor

Locate one that is causing issues by comparing its path with the path inside the task manager command line and delete the key. Once the key is deleted right-click on RUN on the left part and choose HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to quickly jump on that key location and repeat the process of key deletion if needed. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE will delete startup entry for all users and sometimes entry will not be present here since the application is not installed for all users or there are no other users on the machine.

After the procedure is finished, reboot your systems in order to apply changes.

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169 IP address error can stop your computer from connecting to the internet which could be a very frustrating experience. In this guide, we will cover simple but effective tips on how to fix this error so you can continue with internet use.
  1. Reconnect your Modem or Router

    Simple and sometimes effective solution, unplug and plug back in modem or router so IP is fetched again, it is very likely that computer will pick right IP address with this stunt.
  2. Use built-in Windows Network troubleshooter

    Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X top open secret menu Go to settings Go to Network & Internet Inside click on Network troubleshooter Follow onscreen instructions After the troubleshooter ends reboot your PC
  3. Reconfigure IP address

    Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog Inside run dialog type ncpa.clp and press ENTER Right-click on your network adapter and select properties Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) and click on OK Now press ⊞ WINDOWS + X and click on Command prompt (admin) In command prompt type and after each line press ENTER netsh winsock reset catalog netsh int ip reset reset.log ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew Reboot your computer
  4. Restart DHCP client

    Press ⊞ WINDOWS + R to open the run dialog In run dialog type services.msc and click on OK Find DHCP client Right-click on it and choose Restart Reboot PC
  5. Reinstall Network Adapter

    Press ⊞ WINDOWS + X to open the windows menu Click on Device Manager Expand Network Adapter and right-click on wireless or ethernet adapter, click on Uninstall device Reboot the computer to automatically reinstall the device driver
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Tutorial for Removing RegCleanPro From Windows

RegClean Pro is a program developed by Systweak Inc. RegClean Pro cleans such invalid registry errors using its advanced scan engine. It not only fixes invalid registry entries, it also defragments the registry, keeping it streamlined for smoother system performance.

RegClean Pro defines auto-start registry entities that allow the program to run each time the system is restarted, it also adds various Scheduled tasks in Windows Task Manager in order to launch the application at various times. This application has been found bundled up with various other potentially unwanted applications, also several anti-virus programs have detected this application for optional removal.

About Potentially Unwanted Applications

What is a Potentially Unwanted Program (PUP)?

Have you ever detected an unwanted program on your computer system and pondered how it got there since you’re confident that you didn’t consciously download or never gave authorization to be installed? Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUP), also known as Potentially Unwanted Applications (PUA), are programs that you never wanted in the first place and sometimes come bundled with freeware software. Once installed, the majority of these applications can be hard to eliminate and become much more of a nuisance rather than a benefit. The term PUP was coined to outline this crapware as something other than malicious software. Similar to malicious software, PUPs cause problems when downloaded and placed on your PC, but what makes a PUP different is you grant consent to download it – the fact is very different – the software installation bundle actually tricks you into accepting the installation. No matter whether it is viewed as malware or otherwise, PUPs are nearly always harmful to a computer owner as they will bring on spyware, adware, keystroke logging, along with other nasty “crapware” features on the PC.

What do PUPs do on your PC, precisely?

PUPs come in many forms. Commonly, they will be seen in adware bundlers which are known to use aggressive and misleading advertising. Most bundlers install multiple adware applications from various vendors, each of which has its own EULA policy. Safebytes Anti-Malware totally eliminates this threat and safeguards the computer against unwanted programs or adware infection. They will also come in the form of web browser extension add-ons and toolbars. They may keep track of your online movements, redirect your search results to risky sites where spyware and adware can be downloaded, hijack your search page, and slow your web-browser down to a crawl. PUPs lie in the gray part of the software spectrum. Also in the large majority of the cases, people won’t be aware that they are installing an unwanted program. Even if the PUPs really aren’t inherently malicious, these software programs still do practically nothing good on your computer system – they will take valuable resources, slow your PC, weaken your computer security, making your PC more vulnerable to viruses.

How you can stop PUPs

• Read carefully before accepting the license agreement as it might have a clause about PUPs. • Do not accept standard, express, default, or any other installation settings which are recommended. Always select “custom” installation. • Install an advert blocker/pop-up blocker; Deploy anti-malware products like Safebytes Anti-Malware. These types of software programs could establish a wall between the computer and online criminals. • Be alert if you download and install freeware, open-source software, or shareware. Never install applications that seem suspicious or malicious. • Use official product websites for downloading software. Stay away from download portals altogether as most websites compel users to download the software using their own download manager, which is often bundled with some sort of unwanted programs.

Can't Install Safebytes Anti-malware due to the presence of Malware? Do This!

Practically all malware is bad, but certain types of malicious software do more damage to your computer or laptop than others. Some malware sits in between the computer and the internet connection and blocks a few or all websites which you want to check out. It might also prevent you from the installation of anything on your PC, particularly anti-virus programs. If you’re reading this article right now, you’ve perhaps recognized that virus infection is a reason for your blocked internet traffic. So what to do when you want to install an anti-malware application like Safebytes? There are a few actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Download the software in Safe Mode with Networking

In Safe Mode, you are able to change Windows settings, uninstall or install some software, and remove hard-to-delete viruses and malware. If the virus is set to load immediately when the computer boots, switching to this mode may prevent it from doing so. To get into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking, press the F8 key while the computer is booting up or run MSConfig and look for the “Safe Boot” options under the “Boot” tab. After you restart into Safe Mode with Networking, you can download, install, as well as update anti-malware software from there. Following installation, run the malware scanner to eliminate most standard infections.

Switch to an alternate web browser

Certain viruses might target vulnerabilities of a particular web browser that block the downloading process. If you seem to have a trojan attached to Internet Explorer, then switch to an alternate web browser with built-in security features, such as Chrome or Firefox, to download your preferred anti-malware program – Safebytes.

Install and run anti-malware from a USB drive

Another method is to download and transfer an anti-malware application from a clean PC to run a virus scan on the infected system. Follow these steps to run the antivirus on the infected computer. 1) On a clean PC, download and install Safebytes Anti-Malware. 2) Plug in the USB drive into the uninfected PC. 3) Double click on the downloaded file to open the installation wizard. 4) Choose a USB flash drive as the place when the wizard asks you where you wish to install the application. Follow activation instructions. 5) Remove the USB drive. You may now use this portable antivirus on the infected computer. 6) Double-click the antivirus software EXE file on the pen drive. 7) Run Full System Scan to identify and clean-up up all types of malware.

A Look at the Best Anti-Malware Program

These days, anti-malware software can protect your PC from different types of internet threats. But exactly how to decide on the right one among various malware protection application that is available out there? As you might be aware, there are numerous anti-malware companies and products for you to consider. Some are worth your money, but most aren’t. You have to purchase a product that has obtained a good reputation and detects not only viruses but other sorts of malware too. Amongst few good programs, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is the highly recommended program for the security-conscious end user. Safebytes is among the well-established computer solutions firms, which provide this all-inclusive anti-malware software program. With its cutting-edge technology, this application will let you eliminate several types of malware like computer viruses, trojans, PUPs, worms, adware, ransomware, and browser hijackers. SafeBytes has great features when compared to other anti-malware programs. The following are some of the features you will like in SafeBytes. Real-time Protection: Malware programs trying to enter the computer are identified and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. They are very efficient in screening and getting rid of various threats because they’re constantly revised with new updates and alerts. World-class AntiMalware Protection: This deep-cleaning anti-malware software goes much deeper than most anti-virus tools to clean out your computer. Its critically acclaimed virus engine locates and disables hard-to-remove malware that conceals deep within your personal computer. Internet Security: SafeBytes checks and gives a unique safety ranking to each and every site you visit and block access to web pages known to be phishing sites, thus protecting you against identity theft, or known to contain malware. Fast Scan: Safebytes Anti-Malware, with its advanced scanning engine, offers ultra-fast scanning which can immediately target any active on-line threat. Lightweight: This program is not “heavy” on your computer’s resources, so you will not notice any performance problems when SafeBytes is operating in the background. Premium Support: For any technical issues or product support, you can get 24/7 professional assistance via chat and email.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to manually remove RegCleanPro without the use of an automated tool, it may be possible to do so by removing the program from the Windows Add/Remove Programs menu, or in cases of browser extensions, going to the browsers AddOn/Extension manager and removing it. You will likely also want to reset your browser. To ensure the complete removal, manually check your hard drive and registry for all of the following and remove or reset the values accordingly. Please note that this is for advanced users only and may be difficult, with incorrect file removal causing additional PC errors. In addition, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing deletion. Doing this in Safe Mode is advised.

The following files, folders, and registry entries are created or modified by RegCleanPro

Files: File %APPDATASystweakRegClean ProVersion 6.1ExcludeList.rcp. File %APPDATASystweakRegClean ProVersion 6.1German_rcp.dat. File %APPDATASystweakRegClean ProVersion 6.1log_06-13-2013.log. File %APPDATASystweakRegClean ProVersion 6.1results.rcp. File %APPDATASystweakRegClean ProVersion 6.1TempHLList.rcp. File %COMMONDESKTOPRegClean Pro.lnk. File %COMMONPROGRAMSRegClean ProRegClean Pro entfernen.lnk. File %COMMONPROGRAMSRegClean ProRegClean Pro.lnk. File %COMMONPROGRAMSRegClean ProRegister RegClean Pro.lnk. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProChinese_rcp.ini. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProCleanSchedule.exe. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProCloud_Backup_Setup.exe. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProCloud_Backup_Setup_Intl.exe. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean Proisxdl.dll. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProRCPUninstall.exe. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProRegCleanPro.dll. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean ProRegCleanPro.exe. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean Prosystweakasp.exe. File %PROGRAMFILESRegClean Proxmllite.dll. File %WINDIRTasksRegClean Pro_DEFAULT.job. File %WINDIRTasksRegClean Pro_UPDATES.job. Directory %APPDATASystweakRegClean ProVersion 6.1. Directory %APPDATASystweakRegClean Pro. Directory %COMMONPROGRAMSRegClean Pro. Directory %PROGRAMFILESRegClean Pro. Registry: Key Distromatic at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware. Key Systweak at HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftware. Key Systweak at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARE.
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How to turn off auto brightness

Windows 10 and Windows 11 have automatic dynamic screen brightness depending on the surrounding light inside the room. Please take note that this option is available only on devices with build-in screens like laptops, tablets, and all in one desktop PC. If you are connected with your PC via an external monitor you will not have these settings available and probably feature is not even working.

screen brightness

Some computers will also allow automatic brightness changes also on what is displayed on the screen. This option is meant to save battery life on devices. Microsoft calls this automatic brightness feature Content adaptive brightness control. In order to change this setting, we will go to settings inside Windows.

Disabling automatic brightness inside Windows

Open Settings inside Windows, in Windows 11 press WINDOWS + I to open settings, then click on the system in the sidebar and then go to Display. Click on the small arrow beside the Brightness slider in order to expand a small menu and then uncheck Help improve battery by optimizing the content show and brightness. If you see Change brightness automatically when lighting changes, uncheck that as well. Close the settings and you are good to go, now brightness will always be as set in settings.

Inside Windows 10, go to Settings and then go to System and then in Display under the Brightness and Color section look below and locate the box that says Automatically adjust contrast based on the displayed content to help improve battery and uncheck it, if the box below with text Change brightness automatically when lighting changes exists, uncheck it as well. Close settings and you are done.

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How to Fix Slow file copy speed in Windows 10
We tend to move and copy tons of files on our PCs and mostly, the process of copying or moving files, especially if the file has the size of 1GB or up, tends to take quite long. This may be caused by some issues which is why you face slow copy or move speed. So if you are experiencing this issue on your Windows 10 computer, then read on as this post will give you a couple of solutions you can try to increase the speed in copying or moving files. Follow the given instructions below.

Option 1 – Try to change the USB port

You might want to change the USB port since modern computers have a variety of USB ports. So if your USB drive supports USB 3.0 or 3.1, make sure that you plug it inside a USB 3.0 or 3.1 ports. If you’re not sure which port, just keep in mind that the USB 3 port is usually blue or you can also use your computer’s documentation or manual as a reference to locate it. It may sound nothing but changing the USB port can actually improve the copying or moving speeds drastically so this should be the first thing you can try to speed up the process of copying or moving files.

Option 2 – Update the USB Controller Drivers

  • First, click the Start button and type “device manager”.
  • Then click on the “Device Manager” from the search results to open it.
  • From there, look for the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” option and then right-click on each one of the USB drivers and select the Update Driver from the menu.
  • Restart your PC and then click the “Search automatically for updated driver software” option.
You also have the option to update the motherboard and the USB driver from the manufacturer’s official website.

Option 3 – Check for any hard disk errors

  • On your desktop, right-click on the “This PC” or computer icon and then select Manage to open the Disk Management. Here you get to check your drive’s health.
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  • From there, check the state of your drives. If it shows that all your partitions are healthy then it means all is good and that the problem may have something to do with some physical issues with your hard drive.
You might also want to run the CHKDSK utility to help you fix any issues with your hard disk. If your hard drive has issues with integrity, the update will really fail as the system will think that it’s not healthy and that’s where the CHKDSK utility comes in. The CHKDSK utility repairs hard drive errors that might be causing the problem.
  • Open Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • After opening Command Prompt, execute the following command and hit Enter:
chkdsk /f /r
  • Wait for the process to be completed and then restart your computer.

Option 4 – Try to disable Windows Auto Tuning

Disabling Windows Auto-Tuning can also help in increasing the copying or moving of files in your computer. It is said that this feature improves the performance of programs that receive TCP data over a network by adjusting the receive buffer size dynamically throughput and latency of the link. Thus, if you are trying to copy some data over the network, then the Auto Tuning feature is playing a role here. And in some cases, disabling this feature completely resulted in a lot faster copy speeds over the network.

Option 5 – Try changing the USB Removal Policy

  • First, plug your USB drive or external device into your PC and then open This PC.
  • Next, right-click on your device and select Properties.
  • After that, go to the hardware tab and select the storage media that you want to enhance and then click on the Properties button.
  • From there, you can select the Better performance option if you wish for your device to have a better performance. Once you select this option, it will enable write caching in your Windows 10 computer but you need to use the “Safely Remove Hardware” option from the notification area to safely disconnect the device otherwise it may result in data corruption.

Option 6 – Format your drive

  • To get started formatting your drive, tap the Win + E keys and then go to the access page of the drive.
  • Next, right-click on the drive and select Format.
  • After that, uncheck the “Quick Format” option and then format your drive properly.
  • Now once the formatting process is finished, unplug the drive and plug it back in afterward.
  • Check if the error is already fixed. If the drive is not initialized, tap the Win + R keys and hit Enter.
  • After opening the Run dialog box, type “diskmgmt.msc” and hit Enter to open Disk Management.
  • From there, right-click on the drive volume and select initialize disk.
  • Next, select the correct partition type and proceed.
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Although the UWP platform is still new, it is working efficiently and significantly and it’s apparent that Microsoft is betting big on it. It helps developers in building applications for Windows 10 that are more modern and beautiful as well as responsive with the help of the .NET Core and XAML. However, all things considered, it still isn’t perfect and it could still encounter some errors. One of these errors is the Windows.UI.Xaml.Markup.XamlParseException UWP app error. This particular error can occur to any Universal Windows Platform or UWP application and according to security experts, it is due to some XAML parsing error. To fix this error, you can try to reinstall the faulty program or check its privacy settings. You can also run both the Program Compatibility and Windows Store Apps troubleshooters as well as run System Restore. For more information, check out the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to reinstall the faulty application

If you encounter this error in an application that is not a system-related one, then you can just uninstall it from the Windows 10 Settings app and then reinstall it again from the Microsoft Store. On the other hand, if it is a system application like the Camera or Calculator app, you can just uninstall and reinstall it using a PowerShell script.

Option 2 – Try to check the Privacy Settings of the concerned app

You might also want to check if all the Privacy Settings required for a certain application are configured properly as it could also cause issues like the Windows.UI.Xaml.Markup.XamlParseException UWP app error.

Option 3 – Try to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Program Compatibility Troubleshooter. This built-in troubleshooter is available in the Windows Update & Security section. From there, select Troubleshoot. This will find a list of programs for you and since you have already downloaded the driver files, just click on Not Listed located at the top of the program list. After that, browse and select the driver files and then let the program do its job. In addition, you can try to run the Windows Store apps troubleshooter as it can also help you resolve the problem.

Option 4 – Run System Restore

If you have recently made changes in your computer’s settings, you could also run System Restore to fix the Windows.UI.Xaml.Markup.XamlParseException UWP app error. How? Refer to these steps:
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  • Next, go to the System Protection tab then click the System Restore button. This will open a new window where you have to select your preferred System Restore point.
  • After that, follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process and then restart your computer and check if the problem is fixed or not.
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Fix THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER 0x000000EA
If a program tried and failed to use the Graphics rendering capabilities of a computer, Windows 10 will most likely throw a Blue Screen error that says, “ THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER ”. 0x000000EA is the Stop code for this particular Blue Screen error and could be caused by a bad display driver or bad video card. Whatever the cause is, here are some suggestions you need to check out to resolve this Blue Screen error.

Option 1 – Try to rollback, update, or disable the Graphics card drivers

Since the THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER Blue Screen error has something to do with Graphics card drivers, you can either roll back, update or disable them depending on your preference in order to resolve the error.
  • First, boot your computer into Safe Mode.
  • After that, tap the Win + R keys to launch Run.
  • Type in devmgmt.msc into the box and tap Enter or click OK to open the Device Manager.
  • After that, a list of device drivers will be displayed. From there, look for the Display Adapters and click on them.
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  • Now restart your computer.
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Note: You also have the option to go directly to the website of your graphics card manufacturers like NVIDIA, Intel, or AMD and go to the section called Drivers then check if there’s a new available update – if there is, download and install it.

Option 2 – Try removing hardware or drivers that you’ve installed recently

If you have recently installed some hardware or drivers, you might want to disable or remove them since external devices are proven to be one of the factors that trigger Blue Screen errors like THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER. All you have to do is physically disconnect any external devices that are connected to your computer and then check if it fixes the BSOD error or not.

Option 3 – Run System File Checker at boot time

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  • Afterward, click on the Repair your computer option located on the bottom-left part of the window.
  • Then click on Troubleshoot.
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  • After opening Command Prompt, type the “sfc /scannow” command and hit Enter to run the System File Checker scan.
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Option 4 – Try to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter

As you know, the Blue Screen troubleshooter is a built-in tool in Windows 10 that helps users in fixing BSOD errors like the THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER error. It can be found in the Settings Troubleshooters page. To use it, refer to these steps:
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  • Then go to Update & Security > Troubleshoot.
  • After that, look for the option called “Blue Screen” on your right-hand side and then click the “Run the troubleshooter” button to run the Blue Screen Troubleshooter and then follow the next on-screen options. Note that you might have to boot your PC into Safe Mode.

Option 5 – Try to manually check the Graphics Card hardware

You might also want to check the physical status of your Graphics card and you can do this by disconnecting the Graphics card or any other external device connected to your computer. Once you’ve removed the external device, check it for any damages. If there’s none, connect it back to your computer and check if the THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER Blue Screen error is fixed or not.

Option 6 – Uninstall any faulty drivers

You can also uninstall any faulty drivers via Device Manager. How? Refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to launch the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “devmgmt.msc” in the field and tap Enter to open the Device Manager.
  • From there, look for any faulty drivers. You can identify them easily as they will be marked with a yellow exclamation point. And then check which entries would not affect the normal functioning of your PC.
  • Now click on the entries of every faulty driver and click on the Uninstall option.
  • Once you’ve uninstalled them, restart your computer to allow your computer to reinstall the faulty drivers you’ve just removed.
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Open Source Software Alternatives
Open Source Software is developed, tested, or improved through public collaboration and distributed with the idea that the must be shared with others, ensuring an open future collaboration. In other words, it is free software developed and maintained by public contribution. Many open-source projects have reached performance and usability like their paid alternatives, some have even surpassed them. Here we will explore open source alternatives to paid applications, you will find alternatives to paid ones that aim to do the same task.
  1. LINUX - alternative to Windows or macOS

    When it comes to the operating system, Windows and macOS mostly dominate the home market, but if you go a little deeper into the OS world you will hear this talk about LINUX and its distributions. LINUX is an open-source operating system, it has many various distributions aimed at different types of users and they are also open source as well. Its security and account privileges, as well as complete control over it, make it one of the best-operating systems in the world, many servers that run websites today use LINUX as their choice of operating system mostly due to its superior security features. If LINUX is good enough for big web companies, I am sure it will be at least satisfactory to you as well. Get your LINUX distribution here. open source os linux
  2. Thunderbird - alternative to outlook

    A great alternative to any mail client actually, connect all of your emails into thunderbird and use it as the centralized email client for all of your email needs. Thunderbird does not lack any features that its paid counterparts have and overall it is a great application worth installing. Grab it from here. open source email client thunderbird
  3. VLC media player - media player able to play almost anything

    Are you looking for a great media player alternative to Windows media player or iTunes? Look no further, VLC is a lightweight media player that can play almost any file type, it is customizable and packed with features even its paid counterparts would envy. Its playback features are unmatched by other applications and once you try it, I am sure you will hardly go back from it. Give it a go and grab it from here. open source media player vlc
  4. KeePass - password manager

    Keepass is a simple, user-friendly lightweight password generator and manager, it uses industry-standard AES encryption and two-factor authentication to keep the details of your accounts safe and secure. you can store him and the database on a USB stick for safekeeping making it a great one to use on a go, wherever you need it. Get it from this link. open source password manager keypass
  5. FileZilla - FTP client

    A lightweight and future-rich FTP solution. It supports remote file editing and resuming of lost transfers, overall great application which anyone who needs this type of software should not overlook. Download it from its official website. open source FTP client FileZilla
  6. Audacity - alternative to Audition, Fl, apple logic pro,...

    Digital audio editor and recording computer software with some great features like recording audio from multiple sources, post-processing of all types of audio, including podcasts by adding effects such as normalization, trimming, and fading in and out. Audacity has a great following and it is well documented, easy to learn and use. Grab it from here. open source sound editor audacity
  7. Shortcut - alternative to adobe premiere, avid media composer, DaVinci resolve

    The shortcut is a video editor application that demonstrates how long an open-source project can go if enough dedication and work are put into it, started as not so great and not so feature-packed in beginning, today it can easily contend with its paid counterparts with its non-destructive editing, color gradation, keyframing, etc. It is running and using FFmpeg, an open-source video framework that lets it open and works with virtually any video or audio format. Download it from here. open source video editor shotcut
  8. Gimp - alternative to adobe photoshop

    This one has been around since 1996 and it is one of the best maintained open source applications. With its features like built-in support for layers, filters, and automatic photo enhancement. It also makes it easy to create new graphic design elements and you can really take things to the next level by downloading plug-ins created by the broader GIMP open source community. Gimp is the best pixel manipulation-free tool on the market and with the right skills, it can go side by side with adobe's flagship product. Check it out here. open source photo editor gimp
  9. Inkscape - alternative to adobe illustrator, Corel draw

    What is Gimp for photoshop that is Inkscape for illustrator. This free open-source vector graphic tool does not fall behind with its tools in comparison to its paid counterparts and I would highly recommend it for anyone. Features like alpha blending, cloning on-point path manipulations can assure that you can create anything you want inside it. get your copy from here. open source vector tool inkscape
  10. Libre office - alternative to MS office

    Libre office is one of the most quality office suite there, it has spreadsheets, word processor, presentation app, calculation applications, database application, and diagrams. All these applications create and make one great suite that can open Microsoft Office files and even work with them naturally. Completely free and active in development there is no reason, not t use it in your daily routine. Go to its official website and download it for a test run. open source office suite libre office
  11. Amarok - alternative to iTunes

    Amarok is an audio player with a broad range of features like integration with multiple Web audio services, dynamic playlists, bookmarks, scripting, context view, and more. get it from here. open source music player amarok
  12. PDF Creator - alternative to adobe acrobat

    As its paid counterpart PDF Creator lets you make PDF files from any application that could print. It works the same way as adobe acrobat and supports encryption and digital signature, it lacks in PDF forms a little but if that is not something that you need, it is a great alternative to acrobat and completely free. Download it from here. open source PDF maker PDFCreator
  13. Blender - Alternative to Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3dmax, foundry Modo, cinema4d,...

    3D modeling and animation software is very expensive. From the point of home user long it has been lost dream to have industry quality 3D modeling, animation, and rendering application for an affordable price. Blender has made that dream a possibility, completely free and open-source this package offers everything that its paid counterparts offer, some could even argue that since its open-source nature and availability of full code it offers even more. Why you are still here? Go get it here. open source 3d application blender
  14. Bluefish - alternative to Adobe Dreamweaver

    When it comes to web editing and code editing applications, notepad ++ seems like a person go-to application, but if you prefer a more professional suited IDE for web development check out Bluefish, auto-filling, code syntax, and constant development make sure that this application will not go away soon and it is worth investing your time in it. Get it from here. open source wed editor bluefish
  15. ClamWin - alternative to Kaspersky, BItdefender, Norton

    This antivirus has over 600000 users and active database updates also feature a full email scanner, scanning scheduler, and File Explorer integration. It is far better than other freeware alternatives and if you are looking for a free antivirus option look no further, ClamWin is here to stay. Grab it from here. open source anti virus ClamWin
  16. Natron - alternative to adobe aftereffects, foundry nuke

    Full-featured node-based composition and effects suite. Natron is a powerful Digital Compositor that can handle all of your 2D/2.5D needs. Its robust OIIO file formats and OpenFX architecture is what makes Natron the most flexible open-source compositor for the visual effects community. Its interface and functionally are the same across all platforms such as macOS, Linux, and Windows. Natron has a powerful keying, roto/roto paint, 2D tracking tools that are staple for all current film production project that requires visual effects. Get natron from here. open source composition and effect application natron
  17. Clonezilla - alternative to Norton Ghost

    When it comes to cloning hard drives usually there is only one application, Norton ghost. Clonezilla tends to change that by offering the same usability as the ghost. Grab your copy from here. open source HD clone clonezilla
  18. FreeCAD - alternative to Autodesk AutoCAD

    Autodesk AutoCAD has years of development and dedication of its team behind it to keep it as the best CAD application on the market and it shows. However, if you are not really a hardcore professional who needs all of AutoCAD features and can live without some automation inside it FreeCAD is one of the best free open source options, it will certainly get the job done and with its dynamic simulation and analysis, it is guaranteed that you can achieve same results as in AutoCAD with little more time investment. Get if here. open source CAD freecad
  19. Octave - alternative to MATLAB

    Octave is the best open-source educational tool used for numerical computation with an interactive environment. The tool features powerful mathematics-oriented syntax with built-in plotting and visualization tools and also Octave syntax is largely compatible with Matlab. Get your copy from here. open source math tool octave
  20. Godot - alternative to Unity3D, Unreal

    Godot is a lightweight feature-packed node-based game development engine, completely open-source and free to use for commercial projects. The engine has reached 3.2 version and it is more and more adopted by various independent game makers across the globe, recently there are to of video tutorials and documentation to get you up and running and its open-source nature lets you modify the engine itself in any way that suits and benefits you. Also, any project made with Godot is completely yours, there are no hidden fees or anything similar. Download it from here. open source game engine godot

Conclusion

That's it, my pick for 20 open source alternatives which I believe you should at least try and if you end up with at least one, you have saved some hard-earned money. And always remember:
  1. Open-source programs give you complete freedom without any shady terms and conditions.
  2. Open-source software code is readily available for anyone who wants it, so anyone can use it, share it, modify it for their own needs, and study it.
  3. No spying eyes, no tracking, and no telemetry
  4. In some cases, open-source tools offer features or performance benefits that surpass their commercial counterparts.
  5. No hidden charges, completely free.
If you would like to read more helpful articles and tips about various software and hardware visit errortools.com daily.
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Scroll bar in Chrome is missing in Windows
If you find that the scroll bar in your Google Chrome browser is missing all of a sudden, and it becomes difficult for you to scroll down the web page and see its content, worry not for this post will guide you on what you can do to resolve this problem. Usually, when the mouse cursor stays hidden in the corner and only appears when you point it to the edge of the screen. However, there are instances when it won’t appear which makes navigating the web page you are visiting quite impossible. So if you encounter this kind of strange behavior on your Google Chrome browser, there are several suggestions you can check out to resolve it. In most cases, updating the browser resolves the problem, but if it does not, you can try restoring the browser’s settings to their default state by resetting Chrome or you could also disable hardware acceleration or disable the overlay scrollbars flag. For more information, follow each one of the options provided below.

Option 1 – Reset Google Chrome

Before you proceed, make sure that the Chrome browser is not running anywhere in the background via Task Manager. Once you’ve made sure that it’s no longer running, refer to these steps:
  • Tap the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box.
  • Then type “%USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalGoogleChromeUser Data” in the field and tap Enter to open this location.
  • From there, look for the Default folder and then tap the Shift + Delete button and if a confirmation prompt appears, click on Yes.
  • After deleting the Default folder, open Google Chrome and click on the three vertical dots icon located in the top-right corner to open the menu.
  • Next, click on Settings and scroll down and then click on Advanced to open the Advanced Settings.
  • Then scroll down until you see the “Reset and clean up” section and click the “Restore Settings to their original defaults” option.
  • After that, you will see a confirmation box and from there, click on the Reset settings button to reset your Google Chrome browser.

Option 2 – Try to disable the Hardware Acceleration

For better performance, Google Chrome uses the Hardware Acceleration by default. Unfortunately, there are just some cases when your hardware, GPU to be specific, might not be able to cope with the requirements, resulting in the black screen issue. And if this is your case, you should try to disable the hardware acceleration from your Google Chrome browser settings panel. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Open the Google Chrome settings page.
  • Click on the Advanced button to get more options.
  • Look for the option called “Use hardware acceleration when available” and then disable it by toggling the button to the left.
  • After that, check if the screen flickering issue in Chrome is fixed.

Option 3 – Try to disable “Smooth Scrolling” in Chrome

Disabling “Smooth Scrolling” in Chrome might also help you fix the issue. To do so, follow these steps:
  • Open Chrome and type “chrome://flags” and hit Enter.
  • Next, look for a flag named “Smooth Scrolling”. You can scroll down until you find it or search it in the Search Flag bar. Note that Smooth Scrolling is enabled by default in the newer versions of Chrome.
  • After that, select the drop-down menu and select Disabled.
  • Then click on the “Relaunch Now” button.
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How to Remove FileShareFanatic

FileShareFanatic is a browser extension developed by Mindspark Inc. This extension offers users the ability to quickly access some of the most popular file-sharing websites. While this may sound tempting and useful at start, using this extension might prove more annoying then useful.

When installed FileShareFanatic hijacks your new tab page changing your default search engine to search.myway.com. Additionally it monitors user activity, recording visited websites, clicked links, viewed products, and whatever other information that can be used by the Ad network to display targeted Ads.

While browsing the internet with this extension you will notice an increase of ads on pages, especially in search results. This extension injects additional ads, sponsored links, and even displays pop-up ads in order to gain revenue.

FileShareFanatic has been marked as a Browser Hijacker by several top anti-virus scanners, and is scheduled for deletion.

About Browser Hijackers

Browser hijacking is considered the web’s constant danger that targets browsers. It is a kind of malicious software that modifies your internet browser’s configuration settings so that you are redirected to websites or pages that you had no intention of visiting. Browser hijackers can do more than simply modifying homepages. It redirects you to the sponsored sites and inserts advertisements on your browser which helps its developer generate earnings. It might appear naive, but most of these websites are not legitimate and will pose a major risk to your online safety. Browser hijackers can even let other vicious programs without your knowledge to further damage your PC.

Symptoms of browser hijack

There are numerous symptoms of browser hijacking: 1. you see unauthorized modifications to your internet browser’s homepage 2. you get re-directed to internet sites you never meant to visit 3. default online search engine is modified 4. discover new toolbars which you did not add 5. you observe lots of pop-ups on your screen 6. your web browser gets slow, buggy, and crashes frequently 7. Inability to navigate to certain sites, especially anti-malware as well as other security software webpages.

How they infect computers

Browser hijackers attack computers via malicious email attachments, downloaded infected documents, or by visiting infected internet sites. Many internet browser hijackings originate from add-on software, i.e., browser helper objects (BHO), toolbars, or extensions added to browsers to give them extra features. A browser hijacker could also be installed as a part of freeware, demoware, shareware and pirated programs. Browser hijackers can interrupt the user’s web browsing experience significantly, track the websites visited by users and steal sensitive information, cause difficulty in connecting to the internet, and eventually create stability problems, making software programs and computer to crash.

Removal

The one thing you can try to get rid of a browser hijacker is to find the malware within the “Add or Remove Programs” list in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. It may or may not be there. If it is, try to uninstall it. But, most hijacking codes aren’t very easy to eliminate manually, as they go deeper into your operating system. Besides, browser hijackers could modify the Computer registry so that it could be very hard to repair manually, especially when you’re not a very tech-savvy individual. You can choose automatic browser hijacker removal by just installing and running reliable anti-malware software. If you need to get rid of persistent browser hijackers effectively, install the top-rated Anti-Malware software Safebytes Anti-Malware.

Find Out How To Install Safebytes Anti-Malware On An Infected PC

Malware can cause a lot of damage to your PC. Some malware types alter internet browser settings by including a proxy server or change the PC’s DNS configuration settings. When this happens, you’ll be unable to visit certain or all of the sites, and thus unable to download or install the required security software to remove the infection. If you are reading this, you may have infected by a virus that prevents you from downloading a security program such as Safebytes Antimalware on your PC. There are some actions you can take to circumvent this issue.

Download the application in Safe Mode with Networking

If the virus is set to load immediately when Microsoft Windows starts, entering Safe Mode could very well block the attempt. Since only the bare minimum programs and services launch in safe mode, there are hardly any reasons for conflicts to occur. To start your Windows XP, Vista or 7 computer in Safe Mode with Networking, please do as instructed below. 1) At power on, hit the F8 key before the Windows splash screen starts to load. This will bring up the Advanced Boot Options menu. 2) Choose Safe Mode with Networking with arrow keys and hit ENTER. 3) Once this mode loads, you will have the internet. Now, utilize your browser to download and install Safebytes Anti-malware. 4) As soon as the application is installed, allow the scan run to eliminate viruses and other malware automatically.

Switch to an alternate internet browser

Web-based viruses can be environment-specific, aiming for a particular web browser or attacking specific versions of the browser. The best solution to avoid this problem is to opt for a browser that is known for their security measures. Firefox comprises built-in Phishing and Malware Protection to keep you safe online.

Run antivirus from a USB drive

Another option is to make a portable antivirus program onto your USB thumb drive. To run antivirus from a thumb drive, follow these simple steps: 1) Download Safebytes Anti-Malware or Microsoft Windows Defender Offline onto a clean computer system. 2) Plug the Thumb drive into the uninfected computer. 3) Double-click the Setup icon of the anti-malware software to run the Installation Wizard. 4) Select the drive letter of the USB drive as the place when the wizard asks you exactly where you would like to install the anti-virus. Follow the directions to finish the installation process. 5) Unplug the pen drive. Now you can utilize this portable antivirus on the affected computer. 6) Double-click the anti-malware program EXE file on the thumb drive. 7) Simply click “Scan Now” to run a complete scan on the infected computer for malware.

SafeBytes Anti-Malware Features

To protect your personal computer from many different internet-based threats, it’s important to install an anti-malware application on your computer system. However, with countless numbers of anti-malware companies in the marketplace, nowadays it is challenging to decide which one you should purchase for your PC. Some are good ones, some are decent, and some are simply just fake anti-malware applications that could harm your personal computer themselves! You should choose one that is trustworthy, practical and has a strong reputation for its malware source protection. On the list of strongly recommended software by industry analysts is SafeBytes Anti-Malware, the most dependable program for Windows computers. SafeBytes anti-malware is a powerful, very effective protection application made to help users of all levels of computer literacy in finding and eliminating malicious threats from their computer. Once you’ve installed this program, SafeBytes state-of-the-art protection system will ensure that absolutely no viruses or malware can seep through your PC.

SafeBytes anti-malware takes PC protection to a totally new level with its enhanced features. These are some of the highlighted features included in the software.

World-class AntiMalware Protection: Built on a greatly acclaimed anti-virus engine, this malware removal tool can identify and get rid of several obstinate malware threats such as browser hijackers, potentially unwanted programs, and ransomware that other typical antivirus programs will miss. Real-time Threat Response: Malware programs attempting to get into the computer are discovered and stopped as and when detected by the SafeBytes active protection shields. It’ll examine your PC for suspicious activity at all times and its unrivaled firewall protects your computer from unauthorized access by the outside world. Safe Browsing: Safebytes assigns all sites a unique safety ranking that helps you to get an idea of whether the webpage you’re just about to visit is safe to browse or known to be a phishing site. Lowest Memory/CPU Usage: SafeBytes is a lightweight tool. It consumes a really small amount of processing power as it operates in the background therefore you will not see any computer performance difficulties. 24/7 Guidance: SafeBytes provides 24/7 technical support, automatic maintenance and updates for best user experience. All in all, SafeBytes Anti-Malware is a solid program as it has lots of features and could identify and remove any potential threats. Once you have downloaded and installed this software, you no longer need to worry about malware or any other security worries. So if you’re searching for the best anti-malware subscription for your Windows-based computer, we recommend SafeBytes Anti-Malware tool.

Technical Details and Manual Removal (Advanced Users)

If you wish to carry out the removal of FileShareFanatic manually instead of using an automated software tool, you may follow these measures: Proceed to the Windows Control Panel, click the “Add or Remove Programs” and there, choose the offending application to uninstall. In cases of suspicious versions of web browser plug-ins, you can easily get rid of it via your web browser’s extension manager. You’ll probably also want to reset your browser. To be certain of complete removal, find the following registry entries on your computer and remove it or reset the values appropriately. Having said that, editing the registry can be a complicated job that only advanced users and professionals should try to fix it. Furthermore, some malware is capable of replicating or preventing removal. It is advisable that you carry out the removal process in Windows Safe Mode.
Files: %UserProfile%\Local Settings\Application Data\FileShareFanaticTooltab %LOCALAPPDATA%\FileShareFanaticTooltab Registry: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Approved Extensions, value: FB8C7587-6C03-425D-821D-65339B3E249E HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\FB8C7587-6C03-425D-821D-65339B3E249E HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\FB8C7587-6C03-425D-821D-65339B3E249E HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\EA89EC10-2255-42A6-9AA7-84B4441C2DCA HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\explorer\Browser Helper Objects\EA89EC10-2255-42A6-9AA7-84B4441C2DCA HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\FB8C7587-6C03-425D-821D-65339B3E249E HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\EA89EC10-2255-42A6-9AA7-84B4441C2DCA HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Settings\6E4DF5E6-A1D8-48E0-BA5A-91C5DBD6AAF1 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\BDF4A303-E4F0-42F0-B235-351F6C8F6C1A HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\BDF4A303-E4F0-42F0-B235-351F6C8F6C1A HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\FileShareFanatic_RASMANCS HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FileShareFanatic_RASMANCS HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Tracing\FileShareFanatic_RASAPI32 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Tracing\FileShareFanatic_RASAPI32 HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\DOMStorage\filesharefanatic.dl.myway.com HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\FileShareFanatic
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Fix SearchUI.exe errors inside your Windows
The SearchUI.exe file is the one that manages the search feature of Cortana. However, a number of users have recently reported that this feature stops responding within minutes of booting their Windows 10 computer. This kind of problem could be caused by missing system files or some issues with the Cortana program itself. And so if the SearchUI.exe file is not responding, then you wouldn’t be able to use the search feature of Cortana. But worry not for this post will walk you through fixing this problem. Before you troubleshoot the problem, you can try to restart your computer and see if it helps, if it doesn’t, then proceed to the given options below.

Option 1 – Try to run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

You might also want to run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter in Windows 10 as it checks whether the settings for Cortana are in place and automatically corrects any issues if the update or software installation has changed the settings. To run it just click on the Start button and select Settings > Updates and Security > Troubleshoot. From there, select the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter.

Option 2 – Restart Cortana’s process in the Task Manager

Restarting Cortana’s process in the Task Manager could also help you resolve the problem. Refer to the steps given below to do so.
  • Tap the Ctrl + Alt + Del keys to open the Security options window.
  • From there, look for the Task Manager in the given list and open it.
  • Next, look for the process of Cortana and right-click on it, and then select the End Task option to end its process.
  • After that, the Cortana process will restart by itself and re-initialize.

Option 3 – Try resetting Cortana

  • Open Cortana and go to the Settings section where you’ll see the “Turning off Cortana clears what Cortana knows on this device, but won’t delete anything from the Notebook. After Cortana is off, you can decide what you’d like to do with anything still stored in the cloud” option. Turn this option off.
  • Restart your PC.
  • After your computer boots, launch Cortana again and check.

Option 4 – Try running the DISM tool

You can try running the Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management or DISM tool to fix the Windows Upgrade problem. Using this built-in tool, you have various options such as the “/ScanHealth”, “/CheckHealth”, and “/RestoreHealth”.
  • Open the Command Prompt with admin privileges.
  • Then type in the following commands and make sure to hit Enter right after you type each one of them:
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
    • Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
    • exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
  • Do not close the window if the process takes a while as it will probably take a few minutes to finish.

Option 5 – Try to reinstall Cortana

If none of the options given above works, you must consider reinstalling Cortana.
  • First, right-click on the Start button and click on the Windows Powershell (Admin) option from the list.
  • Next, type the following command and hit Enter to execute it:
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml"}
  • Restart your computer and check if Cortana is now able to connect.

Option 6 – Try troubleshooting the problem in a Clean Boot State

There are instances that some conflicting programs installed in your computer might be the one that’s causing some issues with Cortana or causing the SearchUI.exe process to stop. To identify which program is causing the problem, you need to put your computer in a Clean Boot State. To do so, follow the steps below.
  • Log onto your PC as an administrator.
  • Type in MSConfig in the Start Search to open the System Configuration utility.
  • From there, go to the General tab and click “Selective startup”.
  • Clear the “Load Startup items” check box and make sure that the “Load System Services” and “Use Original boot configuration” options are checked.
  • Next, click the Services tab and select the “Hide All Microsoft Services” check box.
  • Click Disable all.
  • Click on Apply/OK and restart your PC. (This will put your PC into a Clean Boot State. And configure Windows to use the usual startup, just simply undo the changes.)
  • From there, start to isolate the problem by checking which one of the programs you installed recently is the root cause of the problem.
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